Bhubaneswar, Aug 28: Odisha is all set to host a landmark two-day National Conference of Chairpersons of Committees on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on August 29-30, marking the first time such a parliamentary committee meeting is being held in the state since 1994.

The event will bring together over 120 delegates from across India, including chairpersons, members, and legislators from state assemblies and union territories. Each state and UT will be represented by one committee chairperson, five members, and four MLAs, alongside 30 members of the Parliamentary Committee on SC/ST Welfare.

The conference will be inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla presiding over the opening session. Prominent union ministers including Jual Oram (Tribal Affairs) and Dharmendra Pradhan (Education), as well as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh and Committee Chairperson Dr. Faggan Singh Kulaste, will also address the gathering.

Themed “Role of Parliamentary and Legislature Committees in Welfare, Development and Empowerment of SCs and STs,” the conference aims to strengthen constitutional safeguards, promote socio-economic development, and share best practices for empowering marginalized communities.

The event will conclude on August 30 with a valedictory address by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati. This historic gathering is expected to shape future policy frameworks and reinforce accountability in implementing welfare schemes, aligning with the vision of an inclusive Viksit Bharat by 2047.